Terrorism under false flag : an indian officer arrested

source web site: Khabrein

Mumbai, Oct. 30: An embarrassed Indian Army admitted Thursday a serving Army lieutenant-colonel suspected of links to other suspects in the Malegaon and Modasa bomb blast conspiracy had "been moved to Mumbai" for questioning by the anti-terrorism squad of the Maharashtra police.

The officer is posted at the Army Education Corps Training College at Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. While the Army did not disclose his name, sources in Mumbai identified him as Lt. Col. S. Purohit and added that he had served with military intelligence.

This newspaper had reported on Monday that a serving officer based at Pachmarhi was being investigated for alleged links to the blasts.

The Army said on Thursday that "while no formal application had been received from the police, Army Headquarters extended full cooperation" and that the officer had been moved to Mumbai "to facilitate interaction at a mutually-convenient place."

Mumbai ATS sources said an "informal" request for assistance had been sent to the Army. The defence ministry gave its go-ahead late Wednesday evening, after which the officer was escorted to Mumbai by another Army officer the same night. "He will be stationed at Mumbai cantonment, where he will be available for questioning. He has been advised not to leave the cantonment," sources said.

South Block sources said no court of inquiry had been ordered, but the Army was treating the matter with utmost gravity.